Hydraulic control mechanism for hopper barges

ABSTRACT

A hopper barge consists of two barge halves articulated to each other along a longitudinal axis of the barge. First and second cylinder-piston actuators are mounted in respective opposite ends of the barge and connected between the two barge halves. Respective first and second pressure fluid tanks are located adjacent each actuator. A pressure fluid pump is connected by a suction line to the first tank and by a pressure line to a threeposition switching valve, and the first tank is connected by a return line to the three-position switching valve. The valve is selectively operable to connect these lines alternately to respective opposite ends of the cylinder of the first actuator. The second pressure fluid tank is connected to the second actuator by a suction line, and an interconnection line extends between the first and second tanks. A common pressure line interconnects corresponding ends of the cylinders at the actuators. A flow line interconnects the opposite ends of the cylinder of the second actuator and has a check valve therein, and a check valve is also provided in the common pressure line. The three-position switching valve has a first position, for opening the hopper barge when the latter is loaded, a second position, for closing an empty hopper barge, and a third position for opening the hopper barge when the latter is empty.

United States Patent 1 Onderka 1 Sept. 24, 1974 HYDRAULIC CONTROLMECHANISM FOR HOPPER BARGES [75] Inventor: Georg Onderka, Metten,Germany [73] Assignee: Deggendorfer Werit und Eisenbau G.m.b.H.,Deggendorf/Donau, Germany 22 Filed: Aug. 29, 1973 211 App]. No.: 392,448

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 31, 1972 Germany 2242921[52] US. Cl. 114/29 [51] Int. Cl B631) 35/30 [58] Field of Search114/26-31 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,404,650 10/1968Miller et al. 114/29 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,278,270 9/1968Germany 114/29 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-StuartM. Goldstein Attorney, Agent, or FirmMcGlew and Tuttle [5 7 ABSTRACT Ahopper barge consists of two barge halves articulated to each otheralong a longitudinal axis of the barge. First and second cylinder-pistonactuators are mounted in respective opposite ends of the barge andconnected between the two barge halves. Respective first and secondpressure fluid tanks are located adjacent each actuator. A pressurefluid'pump is connected by a suction line to thetirst tank and by apressure line to a three-position switching valve, and the first tank isconnected by a return line to the threeposition switching valve. Thevalve is selectively operable to connect these lines alternately torespective opposite ends of the cylinder of the first actuator. Thesecond pressure fluid tank is connected to the second actuator by asuction line, and an interconnection line extends between the first andsecond tanks. A common pressure line interconnects corresponding ends ofthe cylinders at the actuators. A flow line interconnects the oppositeends of the cylinder of the second actuator and has a check valvetherein, and a check valve is also provided in the common pressure line.The three-position switching valve has a first position, for opening thehopper barge when the latter is loaded, a second position, for closingan empty hopper barge, and a third position for opening the hopper bargewhen the latter is empty.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures mmgummn 4 3.837; 312 am am 2 FIGA HYDRAULICCONTROL MECHANISM FOR HOPPER BARGES FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a hydraulic control mechanism forhopper barges consisting of two barge halves hinged or articulated toeach other along a longitudinal axis of the barge. The two barge halvescan be spread apart to a certain angle, to provide a gap ofcorresponding width in the bottom of the loading space or hopper. Forthe purpose of opening and closing such a hopper barge, hydrauliccylinders usually are provided in one of the end portions of the barge,and are mounted either below or above the axis of articulation independence on whether the latter is at the deck level or is below thedeck level.

There is a known device, comprising a working cylinder communicatingwith a pressure fluid tank through lines connected to both ends thereof,and a pressure fluid pump mounted in one of these lines, whose piston iscontrollable by a three-position switching valve for reversing thestrokes of the working cylinder, such a device being shown in GermanPat. No. 1,278,270.

There is also known a device comprising two working cylinders, eachmounted on a respective end of the hopper barge, and having theircylinder chambers connected in parallel through corresponding lines, asshown in German Pat. No. 1,998,878.

In other known actuating devices, aside from a hydraulic tank which isheld under pneumatic pressure, an additional or second hydraulic tank isincluded which can be put under pressure by means of a pump, as shown inFrench Pat. No. 1,240,850.

Finally, it is well known to provide double-acting control valves andcheck valves in the pipe systems for putting hydraulic pistons underpressure alternately, as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,404,650.

Taking into account the above-mentioned state of the art, it is knownfrom experience that, in the larger hopper barges, which are primarilyused in coastal waters or even on the open sea, and in whch such abottom opening device must be provided with at least two hydrauliccylinders located in respective end portions of the barge in front ofand behind the loading space, operational difficulties may occur. Thesedifficulties are due to the possibility that, while opening the loadedhopper barge, a vacuum may appear at one side of the piston of one orthe other of the two hydraulic cylinders, and has the effect of abraking force because, as the arrangement may be, the distance of thecommon pressure tank from one or both of the hydraulic cylinders is sogreat that, through the long lines, the oil or other hydraulic fluidused as the pressure fluid cannot refill the respective spaces quicklyenough within the required brief time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention therefore is directed tothe problem of finding a solution which obviates such a drawback. It isof no consequence whether or not the component parts used in theinvention system are new, as the main consideration is, instead, thegeneral arrangement which is necessary for the operation of the deviceunder all switching conditions. Accordingly, the objective of theinvention is to provide, in addition to the first hydrauliccylinder-piston actuator, 21 second hydraulic pressure actuator mounted,in a known manner, in the other end portion of the hopper barge andconnected, through a common pressure line to the first actuator,together with an additional pressure fluid tank located near the secondactuator and connected thereto through a suction line and to the firstor main pressure fluid tank through an interconnection line. A flow lineextends between opposite ends of the cylinder of the second actuator andis provided, in a known manner with a check valve therein, and two checkvalves, connected in parallel and opening in mutually oppositedirections, are provided in the common pressure line interconnecting thetwo actuators, one of the these two check valves being spring-loaded.

In the arrangement of the invention, the switching valve advantageouslymay be brought into three positions. In the first position, for openingthe loaded hopper barge, the piston rod sides of both hydrauliccylinders are-connected to the piston head side of one cylinder and alsoto the return line eading to the main or first pressure fluid tank. Inthe second position, for closing the empty hopper barge, the pressureside of the pump is connected to the pressure line leading to the pistonrod side of both hydraulic cylinders, and the piston head side of onehydraulic cylinder is connected to the return line. In the thirdposition, for opening the empty hopper barge, the pressure side of thepump is connected to the piston head side of only one hydrauliccylinder, and the pressure line leading to the piston rod sides of bothhydraulic cylinders is connected to the return line.

In addition, it is preferable to provide a throttling section in thereturn line, in a manner known per se.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved hydraulic controlmechanism for a hopper barge consisting of two barge halves articulatedto each other along a longitudinal axis of the barge.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism whichobviates the disadvantages of known mechanisms for this purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mechanismincluding respective fluid pressure actuators at opposite ends of thebarge and each connected to a respective fluid pressure tank, with onefluid pressure actuator being connected to a fluid pressure pump, andwith a switching valve controlling the interconnection and operation ofthe two fluid pressure actuators in a novel manner.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference ismade to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I and the discharge position of thetwo barge halves; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The hopper barge, shown in FIGS.1, 2 and 3, comprises, in the usual manner, tow barge halves 1 and 2which are articulated to each other. in the central longitudinal planeof the barge and at the deck level, by means of hinges 3. ln the centralzone of the hopper barge, a load trough 4 is provided, and isillustrated batched in FIGS. l and 2. This load trough 4, after thebarge halves l and 2 have been spread apart as shown in F IG. 3, opensdownwardly so that the load, consisting of loose material, isautomatically discharged, the discharge being favored by the inclinedlateral faces of the trough.

The hydraulic actuating means comprises two bydraulic actuators, of thepiston-cylinder type, indicated at 5 and 6, and these are mounted at theopposite end portions of the hopper barge outside load trough 4 andbelow the hinge axis, to extend transversely of the hinge axis. At oneend of each actuator, the cylinder is hinged to one of the barge halves,and the free ends of the associated piston rods, extending from theother end of each cylinder, are hinged to the other half of the barge.

Referring to FIG. 4, in addition to the hydraulic actuators 5 and 6, thehydraulic control mechanism of the invention includes a circulation linemounted in the zone of one of the hydraulic cylinders 5, i.e. in the endportion of the hopper barge in hich cylinder S is provided. Thecirculation line comprises four line portions 7, 8, 9 and 10, of whichportions 7 and 8 are connected to opposite ends of the cylinder ofactuator 5, at one end, and, at the opposite end, to a switching valve11. The line portions 9 and 10 connect switching valve 11 through a pump12 and a throttle section 13, respectively, with a main or firstpressure-fluid tank 14. A check valve 23 is provided between pump 12 andline portion 7.

In the zone of the other cylinder-piston hydraulic actuator 6, a suctionline 16, leading into an additional or second pressure-fluid tank 15, isconnected to the piston head side of the cylinder directly, and to thepiston rod side of the cylinder through a check valve 17 opening only inthe direction of the piston rod side of the cylinder. Pressure-fluidtank communicates with the first pressure-fluid tank l4 through aninterconnecting line 18.

In addition. the piston rod sides of both actuators 5 and 6 areinterconnected by a pressure line 19 in which two check valves 20 and 21are mounted in parallel so as to open in mutually opposite directions.One check valve, namely the check valve Zl opening in the direction ofthe hydraulic actuator 6, is loaded or biased by a spring 22 acting inthe closing sense.

The switching valve ll can be brought into any one of three positions a,b and c in which the line portions 7, 8 and 9, 10 of the circulationline connected thereto may be interconnected through passages providedin the different parts of the switching valve and in accordance with thedesired operation to be effected.

As illustrated, the switching valve ll is in its intermediate position bin which pump 12 is connected to line portion 7 and line portion 8 isconnected to line portion 10 having the throttling device 13 therein.The position a, in which switching valve ll is shifted to the right,corresponds to an opening operation produced solely by the weight of theload placed in the load trough 4 of the barge, and without any action ofpump 12. In switching position a, hydraulic fluid can flow from thepiston rod sides of the cylinders of both actuators 5 and 6 throughpressure line 19 to the piston head side of the cylinder of hydraulicactuator 5, the volume in excess flowing through line portion 10 andthrottle section 13 into the main or first pressure-fluid tank 14. Atthe same time, the hydraulic fluid volume necessary for the piston headside of the cylinder of hydraulic actuator 6 is drawn in from theadditional or second pressurefluid tank 15.

The position b of switching valve 11, illustrated in FIG. 4, is providedfor closing of the empty barge. In this position, pump 12 furnisheshydraulic fluid under pressure from tank 14 through line portions 9 and7 of the circulation system to the piston rod side of the cylinder ofhydraulic actuator 5, and the hydraulic fluid from the piston head sideof the cylinder flows back into tank 14 through line portions 8 and 10and throttle section 13. During this operation, the piston of hydraulicactuator 6 is entrained, in the respective direction, by the closingmovement of the two barge halves. Thereby, the hydraulic fluid from thepiston head side of the cylinder of hydraulic actuator 6 is displaced, apart of its volume passes through check valve 17 to the piston rod sideof this cylinder and the excess volume returns, through suction line 16into tank 15. As soon as the barge is closed and the two pistons of thehydraulic actuators are in their lower end positions, pump 12 furnishesa closing pressure, which is necessary for secure hermetic sealing ofthe two barge halves. This closing pressure is supplied, throughpressure line 19, to the pistons of both hydraulic actuators. Theclosing pressure is higher than the spring pressure in check valve 21which is positioned in the line leading to hydraulic actuator 6.

Position 0, in which switching valve 11 is shifted to the left,corresponds to the operation producing opening of the empty barge. Inthis position, pump 12 furnishes hydraulic pressure fluid from tank 14through the crosswise interconnected line portions 9 and 8 of thecirculation system to the piston head side of the cylinder of hydraulicactuator 5, and the hydraulic fluid from the piston rod side of thiscylinder can flow through the other two also crosswise interconnectedline portions 7 and 10 of the circulation system and the throttlesection 13 back into tank 14. During this operation, the piston ofhydraulic actuator 6 is again entrained in the respective direction bythe opening movement of the barge halves. Thus, the hydraulic fluid onthe piston rod side of the cylinder of actuator 6 is displaced andpasses through pressure line 19, check valve 20 and line portions 7 and10 of the circulation system into tank 14. The volume at the piston headside of the cylinder of actuator 6 which increases during this motion,is refilled by suction from tank 15 through line 16.

As will be clear from the foregoing explanation of the differentswitching positions of switching valve 11, and operations correspondingto the desired effect, in two cases only, one of the hydraulicactuators, namely the actuator 5, is used to produce the opening of thetwo barge halves, while the other hydraulic actuator, namely theretention actuator 6, serves only to assure a sufficient sealingpressure over the entire length of the barge. Additionally, by providingthe two pressurefluid tanks 14 and 15 it is made certain that no vacuumcan develop in the cylinders of either of the two hydraulic actuators.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A hydraulic control mechanism, for a hopper barge consisting of twobarge halves articulated to each other along a longitudinal axis of thebarge, comprising, in combination, a first working cylinder-pistonactuator mounted in one end of the barge and connected between the twobarge halves; a first pressure fluid tank adjacent said first actuatorat said one end of the barge; a pressure fluid pump adjacent said oneend of the barge and connected by a suction line to said first pressurefluid tank; a pressure line connected to said pump; a return lineconnected to said first pressure fluid tank; a three-position switchingvalve at said one end of the barge connected to said pressure line andto said return line and selectively operable to connect said linesalternately to. respective opposite ends of the cylinder of said firstactuator; a second working cylinder-piston actuator mounted in theopposite end of the barge and connected between the two barge halves; acommon pressure line interconnecting corresponding ends of the cylindersof said first and second actuators; a second pressure fluid tankadjacent said second actuator; a suction line connecting said secondtank to said second actuator; an interconnection line extending betweensaid first and second tanks; a flow line interconnecting opposite endsof the cylinder of said second actuator; a first check valve in saidflow line; and a second check vlave in said common pressure line.

2. A hydraulic control mechanism for a hopper barge, as claimed in claim1, including a throttle section provided in said return line.

3. A hydraulic control mechanism for a hopper barge, as claimed in claim1, including a third check valve connected in parallel with said secondcheck valve in said common pressure line; said second and third checkvalves opening in mutually opposed directions and one of said second andthird check valves being loaded with a spring.

4. A hydraulic control mechanism, for a hopper barge consisting of twobarge halves articulated to each other along a longitudinal axis of thebarge, comprising, in combination, a first working cylinder-pistonactuator mounted in one end of the barge and connected between the twobarge halves; a pressure fluid pump; a pressure line connected to saidpump; a first pressure fluid tank; a return line connected to said firstpressure fluid tank; a three-position switching valve connected to saidpressure line and to said return line and selectively operable toconnect said lines alternately to respective opposite ends of thecylinder of said first actuator; a second working cylinder-pistonactuator mounted in the opposite end of the barge and connected betweenthe two barge halves; a common pressure line interconnecting said firstand second actuators; a second pressure fluid tank adjacent said secondactuator; a suction line connecting said second tank to said secondactuator; an interconnection line extending between said first andsecond tanks; a flow line interconnecting opposite ends of the cylinderof said second actuator; a first check valve in said flow line; and asecond check valve in said common pressure line; said switching valvehaving a first position, serving to open the loaded hopper barge, inwhich the piston rod sides of the cylinders of both hydraulic actuatorsare connected to the piston head side of the cylinder of one hydraulicactuator and also to said return line leading to said first tank; asecond position, serving to close the empty hopper barge in which thepressure side of said pump is connected to said common pressure linecommunicating with the piston rod sides of the cylinders of bothactuators, and the piston head side of the cylinder of one actuator isconnected to said return line; and a third position, serving to open theempty hopper barge, in which the pressure side of said pump is connectedto the piston head side of the cylinder of only one hydraulic actuator,and said common pressure line is connected to said return line

1. A hydraulic control mechanism, for a hopper barge consisting of twobarge halves articulated to each other along a longitudinal axis of thebarge, comprising, in combination, a first working cylinder-pistonactuator mounted in one end of the barge and connected between the twobarge halves; a first pressure fluid tank adjacent said first actuatorat said one end of the barge; a pressure fluid pump adjacent said oneend of the barge and connected by a suction line to said first pressurefluid tank; a pressure line connected to said pump; a return lineconnected to said firsT pressure fluid tank; a three-position switchingvalve at said one end of the barge connected to said pressure line andto said return line and selectively operable to connect said linesalternately to respective opposite ends of the cylinder of said firstactuator; a second working cylinder-piston actuator mounted in theopposite end of the barge and connected between the two barge halves; acommon pressure line interconnecting corresponding ends of the cylindersof said first and second actuators; a second pressure fluid tankadjacent said second actuator; a suction line connecting said secondtank to said second actuator; an interconnection line extending betweensaid first and second tanks; a flow line interconnecting opposite endsof the cylinder of said second actuator; a first check valve in saidflow line; and a second check vlave in said common pressure line.
 2. Ahydraulic control mechanism for a hopper barge, as claimed in claim 1,including a throttle section provided in said return line.
 3. Ahydraulic control mechanism for a hopper barge, as claimed in claim 1,including a third check valve connected in parallel with said secondcheck valve in said common pressure line; said second and third checkvalves opening in mutually opposed directions and one of said second andthird check valves being loaded with a spring.
 4. A hydraulic controlmechanism, for a hopper barge consisting of two barge halves articulatedto each other along a longitudinal axis of the barge, comprising, incombination, a first working cylinder-piston actuator mounted in one endof the barge and connected between the two barge halves; a pressurefluid pump; a pressure line connected to said pump; a first pressurefluid tank; a return line connected to said first pressure fluid tank; athree-position switching valve connected to said pressure line and tosaid return line and selectively operable to connect said linesalternately to respective opposite ends of the cylinder of said firstactuator; a second working cylinder-piston actuator mounted in theopposite end of the barge and connected between the two barge halves; acommon pressure line interconnecting said first and second actuators; asecond pressure fluid tank adjacent said second actuator; a suction lineconnecting said second tank to said second actuator; an interconnectionline extending between said first and second tanks; a flow lineinterconnecting opposite ends of the cylinder of saId second actuator; afirst check valve in said flow line; and a second check valve in saidcommon pressure line; said switching valve having a first position,serving to open the loaded hopper barge, in which the piston rod sidesof the cylinders of both hydraulic actuators are connected to the pistonhead side of the cylinder of one hydraulic actuator and also to saidreturn line leading to said first tank; a second position, serving toclose the empty hopper barge in which the pressure side of said pump isconnected to said common pressure line communicating with the piston rodsides of the cylinders of both actuators, and the piston head side ofthe cylinder of one actuator is connected to said return line; and athird position, serving to open the empty hopper barge, in which thepressure side of said pump is connected to the piston head side of thecylinder of only one hydraulic actuator, and said common pressure lineis connected to said return line.